Japanese Model Aoi Fujino Dies at 27, Days After Announcing Retirement

Aoi Fujino has died at the age of 27, just days after publicly announcing her retirement from the entertainment industry.

Fujino shared an emotional farewell message with fans on December 31, saying it would be her final post and thanking supporters for their love over the years. She asked to be remembered occasionally and said goodbye to her audience.

Five days later, on January 5, her mother confirmed her death in a statement posted on Fujino’s Instagram account. She thanked those who had supported her daughter throughout her life.

Fujino, who was from Ishikawa Prefecture, had been battling a rare malignant cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, for three years. Following her diagnosis, she paused her career to undergo treatment.

She briefly returned to work in August 2024 but was forced to step back again six months later as her health declined. Despite ongoing illness, she continued to appear at fan events and remain active professionally throughout 2025.

Shortly before her death, Fujino told her followers how she wished to be remembered, writing that being recalled as her energetic and vibrant self would make her feel deeply blessed.

She had amassed more than 70,000 followers on Instagram and was known for her swimsuit and lingerie modeling work.